In nature, α-and β-hydroxy carboxylic acids occur in a wide variety of microorganisms and are recurrent intermediates in the α-and β-oxidation pathways of fatty-acid degradation.[1] Moreover, α-hydroxy acids have found extensive application in synthetic organic chemistry as chiral intermediates,[2] chiral ligands,[3] and resolving agents for alcohols and amines;[4] they have also found application as antiaging factors in the cosmetics industry.[5] As a ...
[Strecker Justus Liebigs Annalen der Chemie, 1854 , vol. 91, p. 356 Full Text Show Details Ssokolow; Strecker Justus Liebigs Annalen der Chemie, 1851 , vol. 80, p. 20]